Monday, February 26, 2007

There are many reasons to go out for breakfast or brunch on the weekend. Maybe it’s a break from the daily routine, maybe it’s the Mimosas (when else can you start drinking before noon and feel good about it), or maybe it’s the Homefries. Let’s face it, those crusty, crunchy, hot-off-the-grill potatoes that come with your omelet are a pretty good reason alone to venture out.

Very few of us can duplicate those at home. When most of us try to make Homefries, we just don’t get the same results. They look the same; they’re golden-brown and cooked all the way through, but they just don’t have that beautiful crusty/crispy texture. In this demo you’ll see why. The key is pre-cooking the potatoes in water first, and then frying. By the way, this is my mom’s very basic recipe, and you can of course dress it up with diced peppers, mushrooms, onions, etc.

28 comments:

Just came across your site by accident and it would seem that we are in competiton!!We both seem to being trying to teach people how to cook! I love your clear and consise explanations! Must say have learnt a thing or two from you! No reason why we can't both be succesful i guess even if you have a big headstart on me! Best of luck!

hey chef john, awesome video! i had worked out something similar in my head (having heard about the parboiling trick). i was going to coat the potatoes in flour (+salt, pepper, ect) before frying; (it seems to me this would help form that delicious crust), and was wondering if there were any problems (in your professional opinion) with this alteration?

p.s. many thanks for all your wonderful free recipes and demos! i can attest to one humble kitchen they have drastically improved.

Hey! I'm making a breakfast for dinner meal for my boyfriend for his 21st birthday, and we both love homefries. I've never made them from scratch before but this recipe looks like it'll hit the spot! Thanks for posting it!

Hi Chef John! I've made this recipe twice in the five days since I discovered it (once for my mom on mother's day morning and then for my girlfriend for breakfast for dinner)! It's delicious...!

I was just wondering if it would be okay to peel, quarter and boil the potatoes the night before, or if there's anything else you might recommend to make preparation easier/quicker first thing in the morn... please advise :)

Made this Sunday morning.... perfection, I was so proud!... BTW I told you previously I have been dating a special someone. Well thanks to me and your recipe vids, we sealed the deal :)(we are now a couple) hahahahah. Your new name, 'Cooking Cupid' aka Chef John.

I have argued with my wife over the pre cook / no cook potato issue. Thanks I was RIGHT!!!!!Sent from my new wifi front porch swing .(as I am no longer allowed in the house)Hey at least the weather is nice.

Chef, being from Upstate New York, I assume you are familiar with salt potatoes. Tonight I'm using leftover salt potatoes to make these homefries, alongside corn on the cob and grilled rainbow trout. Life does not suck.

Chef, being from Upstate New York, I assume you are familiar with salt potatoes. Tonight I'm using leftover salt potatoes to make these homefries, alongside corn on the cob and grilled rainbow trout. Life does not suck.